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Hip Dysplasia In Dogs
Have you noticed your dog slowing down in their hind quarters, having difficulty transitioning from laying to standing, or showing signs of discomfort with regular movements? Is your dog hesitant to do the things they love like going on long walks, playing with other dogs, or running in the park? If so, it’s possible your dog may be dealing with hip dysplasia. But, that doesn’t mean your dog has to keep having a hard time getting around!
Hip dysplasia is a condition of the hip joint (imagine a ball and socket joint). The head of the femur, the “ball”, doesn’t fit into the acetabulum, the “socket”, properly. The ligaments surrounding this joint aren’t strong enough to support the joint efficiently. Over time, abnormal movement within the hip joint can cause loss of cartilage, formation of bone spurs, pain, loss of mobility, and overall discomfort. Generally, hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition that affects larger dog breeds. However, a sedentary lifestyle and excess weight can exacerbate the condition. The most common breeds affected by this are Bulldogs, Pugs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Saint Bernards, Neopolitan Mastiffs, and Otterhounds. Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers often experience hip dysplasia as well.
Signs and Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia
Symptoms of hip dysplasia often show up as mild at first, but can progressively get worse. Typically, symptoms don’t show up until middle age or later. Here are some things to look out for if you think your dog might have hip dysplasia:
- Stiffness in hips when going from laying down to standing up
- Stiffness in hips when walking, running, or playing
- Lameness (limping) on hind legs
- Loss of muscle tone in hind legs
- Running with a ‘bunny hop” gait
Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia
A qualified healthcare professional is able to diagnose hip dysplasia based on specific palpation methods and specifically positioned hip x-rays. Most often, dogs with hip dysplasia are classified into two groups:
1. Younger dogs with significant hip laxity but no arthritis
2. Older dogs that have developed hip arthritis as a result of hip dysplasia
Whether hip dysplasia is best treated conservatively or with surgery depends on the severity as well as the dog’s age. Regardless of which treatment method you choose, a certified canine rehabilitation therapist can make a meaningful difference in recovery.
A certified canine rehab therapist can evaluate your dog’s strength, flexibility, gait pattern, and daily functions to develop a treatment plan that will get your dog moving with more ease. They will utilize manual therapy techniques to ease pain and a customized therapeutic exercise program to help build stability in the joints and make functional movements easier and less painful.
Surgery may be warranted in some cases to provide the best outcome for your dog. The most common surgery is called Femoral Head Ostectomy, or FHO. Before opting for surgery, it is important to be aware of all the alternatives available that may help manage the condition more conservatively. A healthy diet and weight, joint supplements, daily exercise, and pain medication when necessary can do wonders for managing this common condition. A certified canine rehab therapist can offer much in the way of improving your dogs quality of life through education, manual therapy, and exercises specific to your dogs condition.
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Hip Dysplasia – Surgical & Non-Surgical
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